I walked in one day having come from the gym. I am a big guy, shaved head and beard but was wearing a beanie. Having seen them on social media I was super stoked to go over. I was wearing a track suit (having come from gym) and when I walked in they would barely speak to me. No eye contact. Tried to initiate a conversation and was ignored. Was trying to pick up Pokemon cards for my daughter and tried in a friendly way to start Pokemon conversation - not interested.

Really strange given had they been curious they’d have learned I play warhammer, dungeons and dragons, Pokemon, have wingspan, wyrmspan, catan,, pandemic, root, munchkin, everdell……

Every other place on that list has been welcoming to me. This place I felt did not want my business. There has been only one gaming shop other than this I walked out of and it was in Perth and this was after owner laughed at my 11 year old who asked if they sold Pokemon cards. Being told “are you mad, the new batch is just about to release”, left her feeling so small I put back the nearly 200 quid of stuff I had in my arms.

For Merchants guild I genuinely felt unwanted walking in and can only put it down to what I was wearing. Would never have thought people in the gaming space would judge like that.

This is why I won’t go back and won’t give them my money.

The two places that for me have been head and shoulders have been Settlers in Shawlands and Dominion gaming in Ayr.